Why is the stormwater utility fee needed?
The City of East Moline has implemented a stormwater fee rather than raise property taxes or cut services in order to meet new, federally-mandated regulations for discharging stormwater and pay for the associated stormwater infrastructure costs. The stormwater that leaves your property as runoff ultimately drains into a city maintained drainage facility. A fee is assessed because this runoff contributes to the need for operation and maintenance costs of the stormwater management system to prevent and correct stormwater runoff problems. Some of the services tied to the stormwater program include:
  • Construction inspection
  • Flood protection through capital improvement projects
  • Improved water quality by reducing pollutants
  • Project design and management
  • Public education and outreach
  • Shoulder and ditch maintenance within the publicly owned right-of-way
  • State and federal regulatory compliance
  • Storm drain cleaning and repair
  • Street sweeping
If you have any questions, please contact the Engineering Department.

Show All Answers

1. Why does stormwater have to be managed?
2. What is a stormwater utility?
3. Why is the stormwater utility fee needed?
4. Who pays the stormwater utility fee? Why should churches, schools, and other non-profit organizations be charged a stormwater fee?
5. Under the new Stormwater Rate structure, how are properties with multiple renters handled?
6. What are the current stormwater utility rates?
7. How much will my rates increase?
8. Why a rate increase is required?
9. Can we delay the rate increase?
10. Can we implement a smaller rate increase?
11. Why are the new capital improvements required?
12. How do nearby municipalities handle stormwater charges?
13. How does a fee differ from a tax?
14. None of my water goes into the storm drains; why do I have to pay a stormwater utility fee?
15. What can nonresidential customers do if they think their bill may be calculated incorrectly?
16. I live on the edge of the city and water on my property drains away from streets and public drainage structures; why do I have to pay this fee?